Rack for floor coverings and the like



Jan. 26, 1937. J. H. MILLER 2,068,755

- RACK FOR FLOOR COVERINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 28, 19:55

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Patented Jan. 26, 1937 ENE'EE i STATES PATENT QFFICE RACK FOR FLOORCOVERINGS AND THE LIKE 1 Claim.

This invention is concerned with a rack mounting one or more spindles oneach of which may be wound a floor covering such as linoleum. It is anobject of my invention to devise for this purpose a rack which is simpleand inexpensive in construction, which will occupy a minimum of space,which will accessibly support a number of rolls of linoleum or otherproducts, which may be operated with little or no efiort to unwind andremove a desired quantity of linoleum or other products, and which willpermit of new rolls being placed in or out of use with a minimum of timeand effort.

A suggestive exemplification of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing wherein Figure l is a front elevation of the rack;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section therethrough on line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a view in plan of one of the turntables, taken as suggested byline 3 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lower portion of one of thespindles.

The present rack comprises an elongated base B in the form of a plank orrail above which is a head H also in the form of a plank or rail.

The base may be positioned upon a floor F adjacent a wall W and the headmay conveniently be carried on the wall at an elevated point, all asclearly shown in Fig. 2.

The base is provided at spaced intervals with openings in each of whichis' fitted a bushing 5 forming a bearing for a trunnion 6 which dependsfrom a turntable 1 having an axial nonround socket 8. The underside ofeach turntable is rested upon a group of rollers 9 each having arotatable mounting in a frame II] that is afiixed to the upper surfaceof the base. It is apparent that with the parts so formed and arrangedeach turntable is free to revolve about a fixed vertical axis.

For each turntable I may provide a spindle S having at its lower end acap l5 with a depending boss It. This boss is of a cross sectional formto be received non-rotatably within the socket 8 of the turntable. Asshown, the lower end of the spindle over which the cap is fitted isadapted to rest upon a shoulder ll formed in the turntable.

The upper end of each spindle is adapted for journaling within a bearing20 that is afiorded by a block 2! having a hinged mounting at 22 withthe head H. Each block, as shown, has capacity for down-swinging from anupper vertical position to a horizontal position where it is sustainedby engagement with the head. In this position the block serves toprovide a bearing for the upper end of the spindle which is free torotate therewithin.

As shown clearly in Fig. 1, a number of turn tables may be positionedupon the base with their axes in substantial alignment. Likewise acorresponding number of bearing blocks may be carried by the head, onein opposition to each turntable. A spindle may thereupon be positionedupon each turntable with its upper end journaled within the opposedbearing, and when so secured in place will be free to rotate togetherwith its supporting turntable. Each spindle is adapted to serve as acore for a roll R of linoleum or other material which is woundthereupon, the lower edges of the convolutions of the roll being restedupon the associated turntable. In use the exposed vertical edge of thelinoleum may be pulled out to unwind and remove a quantity of thematerial, and in this operation the turntable revolves freely.

It will be noted that each spindle will serve as a core for the windingsof the linoleum, and that the entire roll, with the spindle inside, maybe fitted in place upon the turntable. This requires merely that theroll with spindle therewithin be lifted to a position which will allowthe spindle to drop into the turntable socket, the roll then restingupon the turntable. As part of this operation the upper end of thespindle may be fitted in the bearing block, or the bearing block maysubsequently be swung down into engaging position with the upper end ofthe spindle to complete the rotatable mounting therefor.

I claim:

A rack for rolls of linoleum and like floor coverings, comprising anelongated rectangular base member having a plurality of longitudinallyspaced sockets formed therein, a circular series of roller carryingframes mounted rigidly upon the base around each of said sockets withthe axes of the rollers of each series fixedly disposed radially of therespective socket axis, a freely removable turntable provided with adepending trunnion journaled in each of said sockets, the under side ofeach turntable adjacent the periphery thereof providing a runway forsaid rollers and the sole support for the turntable, a socket having anon-round lower portion formed in the upper face of each of saidturntables, a roll centering spindle for each turntable having its lowerend shaped to fit snugly within the socket thereof and non-rotatablyengage the non-round lower portion of the socket, and a block mounted toswing into a horizontal position over a roll supported upon a turntableand having a bearing therein adapted to receive and rotatably supportthe upper end of the spindle.

JOHN H. MILLER.

